Systems Science and Theory degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in systems science and theory earn a median $67,632 four years after finishing, across 6 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in mathematics and computer science earn $115,442, $53,393 more than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is software developers (52%).
Median across 6 colleges; middle half $57,510–$91,034.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $83,789–$152,752. 115 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Mathematics And Computer Science"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$79,804/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs systems science and theory graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in mathematics and computer science actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 52% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Other Managers | 6% | — | — | — | — |
| Management Analysts | 4% | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree | CIE |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 3% | $105,070 | +1.4% | Bachelor's degree | ECS |
| Other Mathematical Science Occupations | 3% | — | — | — | — |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 2% | $105,850 | +7.9% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Secondary School Teachers | 2% | $70,930 | -0.2% | — | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers | 2% | $82,250 | +6.0% | — | — |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Who tends to enjoy this work
The jobs these graduates hold score highest on Investigative, Conventional, Realistic interests (O*NET), weighted by how many graduates hold each job. A rough guide to fit, not a test.
O*NET 31.0 interest scores (1-7) for each job, weighted by Census share of graduates; EducationGuide calculation.
Systems Science and Theory earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $70,820 (3) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where systems science and theory graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 0 in Florida, 1 in Virginia, 4 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison UniversityVA | $91,034 | $22,301 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Systems Science and Theory degree questions
How much do Systems Science and Theory graduates make?
Systems Science and Theory graduates earn a median $67,632 four years after finishing, across 6 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $57,510 to $91,034; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in mathematics and computer science, the median is $115,442 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Systems Science and Theory degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in mathematics and computer science earn a median $115,442: $53,393 more than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $79,804 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Systems Science and Theory graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in mathematics and computer science, the most common jobs are software developers (52%), other managers (6%), management analysts (4%). Software Developers earn a U.S. median $135,980.
Census field of degree matched to this major by EducationGuide (Systems Science and Theory -> Mathematics And Computer Science).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Systems Science and Theory degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/systems-science-and-theory.